Clothes-line reel



Paten ted Dec. 27, 1898.

No. e|s,747.

r. s. TAYLOR.

CLOTHES LINE REEL- {Application filed Mayli, 1898.)

(No Mude l.)

rm: NORRIS mans co wowumo" WASHINGYON, o. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREEMAN BROOKS TAYLOR, OF \VARREN, OHIO.

CLOTH EjS-LINE REEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,747, dated December 27, 1898.

Application filed May 14, 1898. Serial No, 680,667., (No model.)

To (0Z6 20720111, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREEMAN BROOKS TAY- LOR, of Warren, in the county of Trumbull and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothes-Line Reels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention contemplates certain new and useful improvements in clothes-line reels; and it has for its object the production of a simple and inexpensive device of this character upon which a clothes-line or the like can be automatically wound, whereby the same may be compactly stored in convenient form to be strung for use at any time.

A further object is to provide simple and efficient means whereby the clothes-line when in use can be drawn taut and the use of clothes-props rendered unnecessary.

In carrying out my invention a supportingframework located within a suitable casing supports the central rotatable shaft of a reel, said shaft being in gear with a spring-operated gear-wheel of any preferred form. This reel is made up of two circular end pieces, each of which is rigidly secured to said shaft and provided with an annular flange adapted to fit within the ends of the cylindrical body of the reel. One end of the line or cable is secured to the reel in any preferred manner, and the other end thereof is passed through a suitable guide secured to the casing. This guide has means for binding and holding the line. Suitable means are provided for holding the reel stationary and also for tightening the clothesline while strung for use.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front View illustrating my improved clothesline reel. Fig. 2 is an end view, parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 4 is an end view of the reel,

parts being broken away.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a casing which is provided at one side with a door a. Within this casing is a supporting frame or casting a.

cated.

B designates the clothes-line reel, which comprises a shaft a supported by frame a, and two disks 1) I), each having a central hole or opening b surrounded by an annular flange 11 in which works a set-screw b whereby each disk is rigidly secured to said shaft. One end of shaft a is squared at a and projected through an opening in the side of easing A. Both of said disks are provided on their inner opposite faces with circular flanges b, which are adapted to be projected within and form a support for a cylinder 1'), which forms the body of the reel. This cylinder is provided with one or more openings b, in which one end of the clothes-line O is secured, preferably, by a plug. The disk I) is provided in its outer face with a circular series of recesses 12 designed to coincide with a hole or opening b in the casing A, said recesses being adapted to receive a pin 5 proj ected through said opening, whereby the reel will be held stationary. The pin 29 is suspended by a cord or chain b When the clothes-line is once strung, it may be tightened by applying a crank-handle (not shown) to the squared end o of shaft a and turning the reel in a reverse direction, so as to draw theline taut, after which the pin 12 is inserted. In this way the use of clothes-props is rendered unnecessary.

The free end of rope O is passed through a guide D. This guide is composed of a single piece of heavy spring-wire bent to form a loop (1, two parallel portions d, and end arms d, which are pivotally secured to casing A, adjacent door a, across which the guide is 10- The two parallel portions d normally bear against each other, forming spring-jaws, which when separated by the insertion of the clothes'line therebetween will firmly grasp the latter and hold the same as against with drawal.

On one end of shaft Ct lS keyed a pinion e, which meshes with a spring-impelled gearwheel E, mounted on a shaft e, the projecting end e of which is squared to receive a key whereby the tension of the spring may be increased.

In practice when it is desired to use the clothes-line or the like the free end thereof is removed from between the spring-jaws of the guide D and secured at any desired point,

whereupon said clothes-line may be strung from place .to place in the usual Way. The spring of gear E is so arranged that the tension thereof is increased as the clothes-line is paid out or unwound from the reel. By this means when it is desired. to rewind the line upon the reel such Winding is automatically accomplished by the reaction of said spring, the guide D causing the line to be evenly fed. It will be observed that the reel can be held as against revolution at any time by means of a pin b and when the reel is so held the line can be inserted between the spring-jaws of the guide, whereby the same will be firmly held. As before stated, the line may be made taut by rewinding the reel by a crank-handle applied to shaft a The advantages of my invention are at once apparent from What has been said, and it will be particularly observed that a'line-reel so constructed is exceedingly simple and inexpensive and positive inits operation. It will also be noted that by means thereof a clothesline maybe readily and compactly stored with a minimum amount of labor and in such manner as to be ready for immediate use.

I claim as my invention- 1. The herein-described line-reel, comprising a casing, a reel mounted in said casing,

and a guide pivoted in said casing adjacent said reel, said guide having a loop through which said line is passed, and also having spring-jaws for holding said line, substantially as set fort-h.

2. The herein-described line-reel, comprising a casing having an opening therein, a reel mounted in said casing, and a guide pivoted in said casing adjacent said reel, said guide being formed of a single piece of Wire bent to form a loop and parallel portions forming spring-jaws, substantially as set forth.

3. The herein-described line-reel, comprising the casing, a reel having a shaft mounted in said casing and provided with a pinion on one end, a spring-operated gear-wheel meshing with said .pinion, means for preventing the rotation of said reel, and a guide pivoted to said casing adjacent to said reel and having a loop and spring-jaws, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREEMAN BROOKS TAYLOR.

lVitnesses:

D. E. HOOVER, W. H. SMILEY. 

